~ … He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream…for it does not cease to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Category Archives: Missions

. In John 5:1-15 the Bible tells of a man who for 38 years had been sick. He lay by the pool of Bethesda hoping to one day be able to make it in to the pool after the angel stirred the waters. Day in and day out he lay there, unable to get to the water in time. Still he waited. Others made it into the water and were healed, but not this man. Just imagine, he had been sick for 38 years and not one person came by and saw his need. Not one person took it upon themselves to help him get to the water.

Then one day HE came by. The man probably thought it would be a day like every other day. The angel would come down and stir up the water and everyone would rush to the pool hoping to be the first to step into the healing waters and be healed. He would be stepped over, pushed around, shoved to the side, and he would not make it once again. This day would not be like the others. No, there was Someone in town who would change things. Jesus was here

verse 6: when Jesus saw him lying there, and knew he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” (7) The sick man answered Him, “Sir I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” (8) Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

That was it! All it took was the words from the Savior, Jesus Christ, and he was healed. Completly. He didn’t do anything to deserve it, he didn’t even ask for it specifically, he just admitted that he needed and desired to be made well. Jesus knew he needed healed and so that is what he did. After 38 years of suffering and waiting for someone to help him all it took was a look and a word from the Son of God. Nothing else. That is how it is for us. We were sinners, needing a way out. No one else could do it for us, no one could push us into the water so-to-speak, it just took Jesus and us realizing we needed Him to make us right.

THE REST OF THE STORY: Another part of that story I find interesting is that after the man picked up his mat and walked, after 38 years of lying there, others there, the Pharisies that is, weren’t interested in the fact that this man could walk. They were not impressed with the idea that after all of these years suddenly he was walking and carrying his mat. No, they were more concerned with the fact that it was the Sabbath and he was not to be carrying his mat. He was doing something that in their eyes was unlawful to do on the Sabbath. Hello, it was Jesus the Son of God who healed him. The God they worshipped on the Sabbath. How could they completely overlook this great miracle and not rejoice with this man? Instead they wanted to know WHO told the man he could get up and carry his mat? ‘How dare he! We don’t do things like that on the Sabbath!’

This just made me stop and think a bit. It is very easy to get caught up in a legalistic mindset. Let us not be guilty of this Pharisie way of thinking. Let us not forget WHO and WHY we are worshipping, and let’s not ignore and walk by those who need The Savior. Instead introduce them to Him and then celebrate with them when they find Him.

Blessings Today,

Pammy Liz

For “whoever callson the name of the Lord shall be saved.”How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:“How beautiful are the feet of those whopreach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15

Today my boys returned from a week long missions trip into St. Louis. We only live 80 miles North of the Gateway CIty, but it can seem like a world apart. It just proves that you don’t have to leave the country to do missions. Samuel helped clean up and plant a community garden. Hoping that making things beautiful will encourage the citizens there. Paul worked all week at a daycare center teaching Bible stories to elementary aged kids. He spoke of how interested they were to hear that Someone loves them. They both loved every minute of it. Last evening they went downtown and handed out sandwiches to the homeless of St. Louis. This was an experience they have both talked a lot about since coming home. There too they found people who loved the Lord and who wanted to hear about our Savior. Each night was filled with worship and Bible study and the group really was brought closer to our Lord through this worship.

My boys have gone on several mission trips through the years and I have yet to go on one. I’m wondering why that is. We really don’t have to go far to reach the unsaved. Perhaps just down my street are lost people looking for a better way and here I am sitting in my comfort holding on to the answer. THE WAY, Jesus! I’m feeling a little ashamed of myself for not reaching out more than I do. Before you join in on the pity party let me say this…I have been ministering. Every single day for the past 20 years actually. As I write this I have realized that although I might not have traveled across the world I have spent endless hours reaching and teaching some very important people…my children. I’ve been a “stay-at-home” mom and now have become a “working” mom but my most important job ever is that of teaching my children to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. The quiet summer afternoons catching grasshoppers gave way to lessons on God’s Creation. Scary storms at night opened opportunity to teach the power and security of prayer. The list goes on and on. I was blessed by being able to be with my boys as they grew up and instill in their hearts a love for Christ. What a shame it would have been to have wasted all of that time. I do feel that they have been my mission field.

Now, my boys are almost out of the house. Paul is starting his sophomore year in college as a Bible Major, and Samuel will be a Junior in high school. I couldn’t be more proud of who and what they are becoming. I imagine in a few years, as my nest empties I will look beyond my own mission field at home and travel out wherever the Lord may lead. Whether it be down the street or across the globe you can be sure there will be people who are hungry for Truth and a need for workers.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Blessings Today

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